In this special episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne steps out from behind the microphone and into the guest seat as Garrett Ross interviews her about the life experiences that shaped her leadership message, resilience, and passion for helping people beat burnout, stay positive, and make their current job their dream job.

Desi shares her powerful personal story, from growing up in a NASA family and navigating her father’s alcoholism, to becoming the oldest sibling caretaker at a young age, working in hospital leadership, opening a family business, surviving breast cancer, and building an extraordinary career as a professional clown, speaker, and leadership trainer. Along the way, she reveals how every challenge prepared her to help leaders create stronger workplace culture, inspire teams, and value people more intentionally.

This episode is full of heart, humor, resilience, and leadership insight. If you are looking for inspiration, practical perspective, and a deeper look into the story behind Desi Payne’s message, this conversation will leave you energized and ready for part two.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Desi Payne’s personal journey from struggle to purpose

• Lessons on resilience, leadership, and workplace culture

• How burnout and hard seasons can shape your calling

• Why valuing people is the foundation of great leadership

• The story behind Desi’s mission to energize leaders and inspire teams

If you are a leader, speaker, entrepreneur, or professional who wants to build a more positive work culture and lead with greater impact, this episode is for you.

Connect with Desi Payne:

Motivational Speaker | Keynote Speaker | Workplace Culture Expert

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker

In this episode of The Energized Leader, Desi Payne sits down with Iowa real estate leader John Salvador to talk about leadership, workplace culture, motivation, team engagement, goal setting, and the power of leading by example. John shares how he built a high-performing real estate office in a small rural market, how incentives and team challenges drive sales success, and why trust, collaboration, communication, and community involvement matter so much in leadership.

They also discuss how leaders can stay energized during difficult seasons, how humor and laughter strengthen workplace culture, how to handle tough negotiations, and why the best leaders focus on serving others instead of themselves.

This episode is packed with practical leadership insights for business owners, entrepreneurs, sales leaders, managers, real estate professionals, and anyone who wants to create a more positive, motivated, and successful team.

If you want to learn how to inspire others, build a family-like culture, keep your spark alive, and lead with authenticity, this conversation is for you.

CONNECT WITH JON:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-salvador-8128469/

CONNECT WITH DESI:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with productivity expert, author, and leadership strategist Jones Loflin to explore how leaders can stay focused, energized, and productive in a world full of distractions. Together, they unpack practical strategies for time management, intentional planning, prioritization, and cutting through the clutter that drains physical, mental, and emotional energy.

Jones shares powerful insights from his books, including Focused as a Bee, Juggling Elephants, and Always Growing, offering leaders actionable tools to improve focus, protect their energy, and align daily activities with meaningful outcomes. From calendar discipline and delegation to asking better questions and creating clarity for teams, this episode is packed with leadership development takeaways that can immediately improve workplace performance.

You will also hear a memorable discussion about humor in leadership, the value of sharing relatable stories, and how laughter helps create stronger relationships and a healthier workplace culture. Plus, Jones shares his unforgettable Krispy Kreme Challenge story and a personal recommendation for staying mentally sharp and emotionally strong.

If you are a leader who wants to improve productivity, manage distractions, strengthen workplace culture, and lead with more energy and intention, this episode is for you.

CONNECT WITH JONES:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonesloflin/

https://jonesloflin.com/

CONNECT WITH DESI:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker